Winter Weather Awareness Week 2009 - part 1 (Watches/Warnings)

...WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS IN THE MID SOUTH...

NOVEMBER 16TH THROUGH 20TH IS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN THE MID-SOUTH. PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO TAKE SOME TIME AND PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING WINTER SEASON.

OVER THIS WEEK WE WILL BRING UP A FEW WINTER WEATHER ISSUES AND WAYS TO AVOID DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. DURING EACH WEEKDAY A DIFFERENT WINTER WEATHER TOPIC WILL BE COVERED INCLUDING...

...WINTER WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS
...FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA
...WINTER WEATHER TRAVEL TIPS AND SAFETY RULES
...WINTER PRECIPITATION TYPES
...WINTER SAFETY FOR YOUR HOME

HERE ARE A FEW TERMS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE USES WITH WINTER WEATHER.

WINTER STORM WATCH...
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THAT DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER IS POSSIBLE AND YOU NEED TO BE ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAVEL.

WINTER STORM WARNING...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER HAS BEGUN OR ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN IN YOUR AREA. STAY INDOORS DURING THE STORM. IF YOU MUST GO OUTDOORS... SEVERAL LAYERS OF LIGHTWEIGHT CLOTHING WILL KEEP YOU WARMER THAN A SINGLE HEAVY COAT. WEARING GLOVES AND A HAT WILL PREVENT LOSS OF BODY HEAT. COVER YOUR MOUTH TO PROTECT YOUR LUNGS. UNDERSTAND THE HAZARDS OF WINDCHILL. WALK CAREFULLY ON SNOWY OR ICY SIDEWALKS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REMINDS YOU TO BE PREPARED BEFORE WINTER STORMS STRIKE. HAVE EXTRA BATTERIES FOR FLASHLIGHTS... FOOD AND WATER... EXTRA MEDICATION... FIRST-AID SUPPLIES... AND BLANKETS FOR ADDITIONAL WARMTH AVAILABLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES. BE READY FOR WINTER STORMS BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL NEWS STATION. IN ADDITION... MEMPHISWEATHER.NET ON THE WEB... FACEBOOK... AND TWITTER WILL STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST WATCHES AND WARNINGS... FORECAST INFORMATION... INTERACTIVE RADAR... AND SAFETY TIPS.

DURING WINTER STORM EMERGENCIES... STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR INFORMATION AND EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS. POST EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS BY THE PHONE AND KEEP ENOUGH SUPPLIES IN YOUR HOME TO MEET YOUR NEEDS FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS. PREPARE FOR WINTER WEATHER BEFORE IT ARRIVES.

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NWS/MWN